|
|
1795
|
The treasure hunt begins around 1795 or so when Donald
Daniel McInnis is credited with starting it. He and
two others, John Smith and Anthony Vaughan dug to a
depth of 30 feet. They reportedly discovered oak log
platforms at 10, 20 and 30 feet the pit became known
as the Money Pit.
|
1804
|
Next attempt was the Onslow Company 1804. They dug
to 90+ feet and found layers of charcoal, putty and
coconut fiber. At 90- feet or so, they found a stone
with strange markings on it. The pit flooded and they
could not pump it out.
|
1849
|
1849 the Truro Company starts to dig. Discovered the
water in the Money Pit was salt water and seemed to
rise and fall with the tide. They discovered the first
flood tunnel at Smith’s Cove, and tons of coconut fiber
under the beach. Drilled into what seemed to be a
treasure chamber, witnessed the Money Put collapse.
|
1861
|
1861, first death happens when a boiler exploded,
several scalded, one dead.
|
1897
|
1897 the Oak Island Treasure Company finds the
“other end” of the flood tunnel ion the Money Pit.
Describes as being 4 feet high, 2.5 feet wide, stuffed
with beach stones, they tried to block it to no avail.
Later while drilling deep in the Money Pit area, they
discovered a small piece of parchment at 154 feet,
then a metal barrier at 171 feet.
|
1897
|
1897 second death occurs, Maynard Kaizer dies when
he falls to his death from a hoist.
|
1909
|
1909 Henry Bowdoin arrives on scene with a young
Franklin Roosevelt, future President of the United
States in tow. Controversy ensues.
|
1936
|
1936 Gilbert Heddon takes up the challenge, makes many
discoveries. Re - discovers the south shore Triangle
of Stones that points at the Money Pit 210 feet away.
Digs a very deep shaft, discovers broken stones on
beach with strange markings.
|
1959
|
1959 Robert Restall, motorcycle daredevil and inventor
arrives with family in tow. They live in a spartan
shack with no electricity, no running water for 6
years. Explores older working, examines the old flood
tunnel drains feels he is close to a discovery.
|
1965
|
August 17 1965 Robert Restall, his son Bobby,
Karl Graeser and Cyril Hiltz overcome by fumes,
drown in a shallow shaft on the beach at Smith’s Cove.
|
1965
|
October 1965 Robert Dunfield from California tries
his luck. He builds the 600 foot long causeway to
Oak Island, digs major holes, finds some tantalizing
clues.
|
1967
|
1967 A new syndicate is formed, Triton Alliance.
They do seismic work and deep drilling to discover
possible man made voids in the bedrock, over 200 feet
deep. Discover many artifacts that point toward a
Spanish involvement. One deep shaft (235'), Borehole
10X gives up TV images of what appear to be tools,
support beams, a treasure chest and human remains.
|
1971
|
1971 Wooden structure under the beach in Smith’s
Cove examined. No one knows what it is for or who
put it there or. It is named the “U” Shaped Log
Structure.
|
1973
|
1973 Borehole 10X collapses almost trapping Triton
partner Dan Blankenship. 10X is eventually re-opened
and enlarged from 27 inches to eight feet in diameter,
re - excavated to 181 feet. Partnership sours and 10X
goes into moth balls.
|
2001
|
2001 Oak Island Tourism Society is founded by
John Chattaway. Idea is to re-invigorate the
interest in Oak Island and have a major tourism
attraction. www.oakislandtreasure.co.uk the “go to”
Oak Island web site goes on-line.
|
2003
|
2003 Norwegian historical detective Petter Amundsen
searches for clues to a new theory. Digs up unusual
stones at the end of huge Christian style cross
earlier discovered by treasure hunter Fred Nolan.
|
2005
|
2005 Oak Island Tourism Society hosts first tours of
Oak Island in ten years. A new festival, Explore Oak
Island Days receives international attention and is
becoming very relevant in the tourism sector.
|
2006
|
2006 Dan Blankenship and long time partner David
Tobias part company, Dan finds four new partners
from Traverse City Michigan.
|
2006
|
2006 Fred Nolan does some drilling on his property,
results unknown.
|
2008
|
March 2008, some drilling resumes on the island with
the new consortium, Oak Island Tours Inc. Some holes
drilled to as deep as 300 feet, results unknown.
|
2009
|
2009 Oak Island Tourism Society folds. Mandate is
not attainable.
|
2010
|
2010 A new group made up of the treasure hunters,
friends and family take over tours.
|
2011
|
2011 Oak Island Tours Inc. conducts new seismic work,
results unknown. Early Treasure Trove Act repealed,
group now works under the Oak Island Treasure Act.
Borehole 10X being worked on, new drilling around the
Money Pit. Another heart shaped stone found.
|
2011
|
Explore Oak Island Display created in 2011 at
the Chester Train Station.
|
2012
|
2012 EOID enjoys it’s official opening, June 23rd.
|
2012
|
2012 Oak Island Tours Inc. Gets a five year treasure
hunting license. Some drilling done in the Money Pit
area, result are unknown.
|
2013
|
2013 Treasure hunting continues. Film producers
(Prometheus Entertainment) from Los Angeles head
for Oak Island to create a six part series for
History TV. Much work being done on Island. Swamp
drained, Borehole 10X cleaned up and investigated.
Exploration continues. Explore Oak Island Display
was used in the pilot.
|
2014
|
2014 Bill 68 introduced by the NDP. Treasure
hunting may be restricted even more.
|
2014
|
2014 The Curse of Oak Island released in January
to the public from Prometheus Entertainment as a
five part series.
|
2015
|
2015 The Curse of Oak Island show continues
as do walking tours.
|
2016
|
2016 Walking tours continue, treasure hunting
continues.
|
2017
|
2017 Walking tours continue, popularity is very
high, treasure hunting continues as does the TV show
that now can boast the highest ratings in the USA for
that time slot. Season five (the last) is a go
(not the last season at all!!)
|
2017
|
2017 Swedish treasure hunter Daniel Ronnstam
continues to explore an area away from Oak Island
for possible deposit site, he finds tantalizing clues.
Interest is growing.
|
2018
|
2018 Season six of The Curse of Oak Island continues.
|
2019
|
2019 Season seven of the Curse is under development,
many new discoveries made. Explore Oak Island Display
enjoys new additions; George Bates charts, Tourism
poster and tickets, large OI map mounted and on
display in Station 20 gift shop, more to come.
Swedish treasure hunter still in area, new scans
being done.
|
2020
|
2020 COVID interferes but treasure hunting resumes.
Many new discoveries. New display added, “Treasure
Hunter’s Desk.
|
2021
|
2021 Late start to treasure hunting. COVID stops
a lot of activity.
|
2022
|
2022 EOID open all the time. Many visitors enioy
our Display. New displays set up, the old Vaughan
musket and recognition of our American visitors and
treasure hunters.
|
|
New Treasure hunting with Daniel Ronnstam, some
drilling and metal detecting done. Curse of Oak
Island TV show enters it’s tenth season.
|
2023
|
2023 Season eleven of the Curse of Oak Island was filmed
and released. Much attention for Lot 5 on the Island.
A good relationship was forged between the treasure hunters,
film production and the Chester Municipal Heritage Society.
|
|
|